Trophy win caps successful debut

Press, 1 July 1985, Page 14

Trophy win caps successful debut

Businessworld climaxed a successful debut in the Canterbury senior men's basketball competition when it won the Alan Hoben Trophy at Cowles Stadium on Saturday. The Hoben Trophy is the preliminary two-round series before the championship proper . and Businessworld dropped only two games out of 10 to win the title by two points from the former champion, Vistalite High School Old Boys, with Butler Auto Spares third on 10 points. Businessworld’s success is a triumph for two of the new club’s foundation members, John Caldwell and Jim Dahl. Before the start of the season both Messrs Caldwell and Dahl were dissatisfied with their existing club, University, and decided to break away and form a separate club. The club they formed has a nucleus of experience and youth and has been well directed. The efforts of Messrs Caldwell and Dahl, both off and on the court, has meant that the squad had developed into the most consistent in the Christchurch competition. On Saturday Businessworld confirmed its top ranking with a 69-62 win against Aranui and once again its leading scorer, Dave Usmar, was a dominant figure. He scored 16 points, one of his lowest of the season, but it was of considerable assistance in a match that never reached any great heights. An early-season lapse probably cost Old Boys its opportunity of retaining the title. From the mid-competition point, Old Boys kept improving and this was never more evident than on Saturday when it crushed Butlers in the second half and won, 83-53.

Continental Caterers Rangiora had to wait until the final seconds before beating Admiral Lodge Checkers, 68-66, at Rangiora. The scores were tied at 66all when Rangiora’s high-scor-ing forward, Lance Dixon, went to the free-throw line after being fouled and he was successful with his two shots to give his side its first home win.

Dixon’s 28 points was a game-high for Saturday’s competition. In the same match, Checkers’ live-wire guard, Terry Brunel, scored 22 points. Other players to score 20 points or more were Old Boys’ Dennis Barry (21) and, as usual, Korry Ritsma (20) for Aranui. Ritsma’s 20 gave him 241 for the competition, which is more than one third of his team’s total of 633 points for the season.

Barry was in his element when Butlers’ defence went to Sieces in the second half. The 'ld Boys-Butlers game was fast and entertaining, highlighted by a dour defensive struggle in the first half and then a point-a-minute freerunning second half. A feature of Saturday’s competitions was the 62 points scored by the Continental Caterers Rangiora junior, Mike Holland, in an under-20 match at Rangiora. Rangiora beat Rangiora High School 112-61, and Holland’s individual performance dominated the game. Results:— Businessworld 69, Aranui 62; H. 5.0.8. 83, Butlers 53; Rangiora 68, Checkers 66. COMPETITION POINTS P W L F A Pt Businessw. 10 8 2 641 579 16 H. 5.0.8. 10 7 3 679 609 14 Butlers 10 5 5 629 639 10 Checkers 10 4 6 645 594 8 Aranui 10 3 7 633 685 6 Rangiora 10 3 7 619 616 6 Businessworld 69 Aranui 62 Businessworld: D. Usmar 16, R. Walker 15, J. Dahl 11, J. Caldwell 9, D. Green 7, S.

McCulloch and N. McMillan both 4, J. Longworth 3. Aranui: K. Ritsma 20, A. Aitchison 18, P. Nuata 8, P. Hill 6, N. Costain 5, M. Casey and D. Moir both 2, T. Costain 1. Half-time: 35-27 (Businessworld). Businessworld gave its usual accomplished display in beating Aranui, 69-62, and in doing so won the Alan Hoben Trophy. The score somewhat flattered Aranui, although at one stage in the first half Businessworld fell well behind, 16-23, and looked in trouble. However, Aranui’s advantage did not last very long and, after leading 35-27 at halftime, Businessworld had much the better of the second half. Businessworld led 10-9 after six minutes of the first half, and then slumped to allow Aranui to take a seven-point advantage with five minutes left. Businessworld immediately settled down and scored 16 points to Aranui’s two in the remaining five minutes to have a 35-27 lead at the break. Aranui ■ outscored Businessworld, 35-34, in the second half, but there was never any real doubt about the outcome.

Dave Usmar’s 16 points and 15 points from Russell Walker made up nearly half of Businessworld’s points. Walker had an excellent game. The cap-tain-coaches, Jim Dahl (11 points) and John Caldwell (9), added strength when it was needed and Darryl Green (7) and Steve McCulloch (4) gave displays in keeping with a sound team performance. For a time in the first half Aranui looked like causing an upset, a situation similar to several others earlier in the season. Once again Aranui failed to maintain the pressure, although it was not for a lack of trying. Korry Ritsma (20) and Aub Aitchison (18) were the pick of the Aranui players, particularly the consistent Ritsma. Paul Nuata (8), Phil Hill (6) and Neville Costain (5) were others to show up. H. 5.0.8. 83, Butlers 53 H. 5.0.8.: D. Barry 21, G. Lang 19, D. Grocott 14, J. Whelan 13, L. Dunstan 8, C. Cowie and P. Dew both 3, P. Duggan 2. Butlers: K. Jones 12, P. Scott 11, B. Hall 8, J. Bosch 7, G. Nuttal 6, B. Duggan 5, N. Buemesburg and M. Weir both 2. Halftime: 32-23 (H. 5.0.8. Two old rivals, Old Boys and Butlers, generally provide sparkle when they clash and Saturday was no exception. Old Boys held a nine-point advantage at half-time, but what promised to be a keenly contested second half turned into a rout, and Old Boys ran away to win 83-53. In an entertaining and often absorbing match, particularly in the first half, the foundations for Old Boys’ success lay with its busy guardline of Dennis Barry, David Grocott and Graeme Lang, who often outplayed their counterparts ana helped set the former champions on the way to success.

Tight marking and good defence were a feature of the first half. It was a different story in the second half when the constant probing by Old Boys caused gaps to open up and the Butlers’ defence fell away. The free-running Old Boys forwards relished the opportunity and scored 51 points compared with Butlers’ 30 in an entertaining last half. Barry (21), Lang (19) and Grocott (14) had a field day from the guardline, scoring 54 of B3 points. John

Whelan (13) also had a sound game, and Lloyd Dunstan (8) often used his height to advantage. However, it was the guards who provided most of yet another accomplished disP Tight marking by the forwards kept Butlers in the game at half-time. The picture changed in the second half when Butlers appeared to tire and the defence lapsed. Ken Jones (12)a sound game, as did Phil Scott (11). The usually high-scoring John Bosch could manage only seven points, although he did not get many opportunities. Bede Hall (8) and Graeme Nuttal (6) played in patches, while Bill Duggan (5) had a sound defensive game. . .• Rangiora 68,

Checkers 66 Rangiora: L. Dixon 28, M. Drayton 12, P. Hobbs 10, P. Newall 6, P. King and M. Knox both 4, P. Cave and J. London both 2. Checkers: T. Brunel 22, M. Corkery and M. Shaw both 10, P. Ward 7, B. Fifield and P. Martin both 6,. J. Mac Kay and J. Piket both 2, S. Edwards 1. Half-time: 37-36 (Checkers). Rangiora and Checkers had a tight and even game at Rangiora, the result being very much up in the air until the final few seconds. It took two successful free throws from the Rangiora forward, Lance Dixon, seconds before full-time to clinch the game for the home side, 68-66. Dixon’s 28 points was an important factor in Rangiora’s success. The Rangiora captain, John London, once again fed Dixon well and this commbination has often proved a winning one in the past. Checkers ground its way to a 37-36 lead at half-time and in the second half the teams matched point for point. The youthful Michael Drayton had another good game for Rangiora, getting 12 points, two more than Paul Hobbs. Paul Newall (6) and Malcolm Knox (4) added to a sound Rangiora performance. Although there was never more than a few points between the teams, Checkers never really got going. Terry Brunel again played well in getting 22 points and Maurice Corkery had a useful game in scoring' 10 points, the same number as the young forward, Mike Shaw, who showed improvement. The usually highscoring Peter Ward, was subdued and got only seven points.